chapter 07

Shen Ling Zhu stood frozen in fear, facing the man whose piercing gaze seemed to strip her bare. Her mind churned with tangled thoughts.

How could her luck be this terrible?

A cold shiver ran down her spine as she glanced at the man from the corner of her eye. She didn't know who he was, but she was certain he wasn't ordinary. The man exuded a dark aura—one she had sensed before in those who had spilled blood, be it human, zombie, or beast. The scent of death clung to such people, as if an invisible veil of dread surrounded them. Shen Ling Zhu shivered uncontrollably.

"Are you a relative of a patient here? What business do you have in the military hospital?" the man asked in a sharp tone, his hoarse voice laced with authority. It wasn't the voice of someone speaking to a young girl but to a subordinate.

The guards around him exchanged knowing looks and sighed quietly. Their marshal was always cold and intimidating, especially toward the beautiful guides who frequently tried to charm him.

This man was none other than Marshal Ouyang Jian, son of the late Marshal Ouyang Feng.

Dressed impeccably in his military uniform, his sharp features emphasized his stern demeanor as he stared at the girl before him. To the guards, she appeared to be nothing more than a timid, shy guide.

If Shen Ling Zhu knew she was being mistaken for a woman trying to seduce the marshal, her face would have burned with anger. She might have even thrown a fireball at them on impulse.

Taking hesitant steps backward under the man's scrutinizing gaze, Shen Ling Zhu tried to avoid further entanglement. But before she could act, the marshal made a subtle gesture. Two guards stepped forward, blocking her escape. It was as if the man had read her thoughts.

Her heart pounded in her chest as the marshal's men effectively cut off her path.

"Are you a family member of one of the patients here?" He asked again, his tone now laden with suspicion and aggression. Ouyang Jian couldn't shake the strange feeling emanating from this girl. Her spiritual energy was powerful, intoxicating even, yet she appeared so pure, so serene. It was unlike anything he'd encountered before.

Could she be attempting to seduce him intentionally?

If Shen Ling Zhu could read the thoughts swirling in their minds, especially the marshal's, she might have committed a crime. Who does this man think he is to be so arrogant and overconfident?

 ...Even she had to admit—begrudgingly—that he was more than just handsome.

Marshal Ouyang Jian was on an unofficial visit to the hospital. One of his close subordinates had been injured, and he had come to check on him. Coming from one of the empire's most respected noble families, his army was second in power only to the royal army. He had a natural talent for assessing strength and power, and his instincts told him the girl standing before him was far from ordinary.

She was stronger than she looked—perhaps even stronger than him. Her energy was so potent that it leaked out without her knowledge.

He couldn't just let her walk away. Even if her presence here was harmless, her identity had to be confirmed.

Shen Ling Zhu, unaware of the growing interest in her, tried to conceal her true self with all her might. Yet her identity was already unraveling before the eyes of two people.

Like a fragile bubble, bursting with the lightest touch.

"Tell me—who are you, and why are you here in the Second Military Hospital? Don't make me ask one more time."

At the sound of the marshal's commanding voice, the guards around her placed their hands on their weapons. Thankfully, being in the hospital's corridor prevented them from aiming them directly at her head. For that, Shen Ling Zhu was grateful.

The weapons resembled small blue-lit launchers. If she were still in her original world, Shen Ling Zhu might have laughed at such "toys." But here? She knew all too well that one shot from these "toys" could blow her head clean off.

She tried to think of an excuse—any excuse—that might placate the marshal. But lying about being a relative or using her aunt as an alibi wouldn't work. This man would undoubtedly investigate her claims and uncover the truth.

Just as she opened her mouth to say something, a soft, calm voice broke the tension from behind her.

"Oh? What's going on here?"

Turning her head quickly, Shen Ling Zhu saw a woman step forward—a familiar figure. It was Aunt Hua Rou, the person she had been searching for.

"Ah, Ling Ai, there you are!" Hua Rou exclaimed in feigned surprise, her voice warm yet steady. "Where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere. Didn't we agree you'd wait for me? What have you been up to, wandering around like this?"

Shen Ling Zhu stood stunned as her aunt wove a convincing lie to save her. It was clear Hua Rou had only just spotted her and decided to intervene. A wave of warmth spread through Shen Ling Zhu's chest. Someone had come to her aid.

Hua Rou's explanation seemed to satisfy the guards, who relaxed their stances. But Marshal Ouyang Jian remained skeptical, his brows furrowed as he continued to scrutinize Shen Ling Zhu. After a brief nod to Hua Rou, he turned and left with his entourage of guards.

Yet, even as he walked away, his mind was racing. He silently resolved to have his investigation team dig into this mysterious girl's background by the time he left the hospital.

Shen Ling Zhu had no idea she had just earned herself another "investigation squad" intent on investigating her background. Soon enough, the Ling family would become infamous among the highest noble families in the empire.

After the marshal's departure, Hua Rou led Shen Ling Zhu to a private suite where her husband was staying. "Come, let's talk for a while. I've missed you," she said warmly as they entered the room.

"How have you been, Xiao Ai?" Hua Rou asked, her tone filled with concern as she patted Shen Ling Zhu's hand affectionately.

"I came to see you, Aunt," Shen Ling Zhu replied, gripping her aunt's hand tightly in return.

"Good, good. This aunt of yours has missed you dearly, my little Xiao Ai." Hua Rou embraced her niece gently, her concern evident in her silence. She didn't press Shen Ling Zhu for details about her encounter with the marshal, much to the latter's relief.

Shen Ling Zhu felt a deep appreciation for her aunt's thoughtful nature.

Hua Rou then guided her to the sitting room, where they spent some time catching up. Shen Ling Zhu had initially planned to complain about the Ling family and all the torment they had caused her. But upon seeing the frail state of her aunt, she changed her mind.

Hua Rou's beauty had dimmed slightly, her pale skin and dark circles betraying her exhaustion. The stress of her husband's illness had clearly taken its toll. Shen Ling Zhu didn't want to burden her aunt further with her troubles.

But Hua Rou, ever perceptive, gently pressed, "Is there something you want to tell me, Xiao Ai? Please, don't hide anything from me. I can see that something must have happened for you to come here alone like this."

After a moment's hesitation, Shen Ling Zhu decided to confide in her aunt, sharing the hardships she had endured since arriving in this world. Of course, she left out the part about not being the real Ling Ai—some secrets were better kept forever.

As Shen Lingzu recounted everything with a blank expression, Aunt Hua Ru's face filled with sorrow, and tears trickled down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, little Ai. I was so caught up in my own life and petty issues that I failed to notice you. This is all my fault, the fault of this useless aunt of yours," Hua Ru said, pulling Shen Lingzu into a tight embrace as she wept.

She had always loved this child deeply. From a young age, Ling Ai had been a kind and sensible girl. Hua Ru had always wanted her sister to let her raise Ling Ai as her own daughter. However, back then, the Ling family had high hopes for Ling Ai to become a strong guide. How could they give her up so easily?

Later, her husband fell ill, and she found herself trapped in a web of problems with her in-laws. Having been childless throughout her marriage, Hua Ru had faced increasing pressure, especially after her husband's illness. Even though her husband loved and protected her, her mother-in-law had grown desperate. Now, she was considering using her son's genetic material to create an heir through another woman before his death.

Hua Ru endured so much, yet she couldn't defend herself. Even as a strong guide, she felt powerless before her mother-in-law, having always been so obedient and submissive.

In this advanced world, medicine was highly developed, but guides were naturally fragile beings. Their bodies were sensitive, and they could be easily affected by their emotional state. 

Before her husband's illness, Hua Ru had been receiving effective treatment, but her deteriorating mental state had taken its toll, affecting her physically.

Guides possessed strong spiritual seas, but these were also highly susceptible to their emotions. This was why sentinels always strove to ensure their guides' happiness and emotional stability.

Shen Lingzu felt a pang of compassion for this kind-hearted woman. Her heart ached for her.

After a long embrace, Aunt Hua Ru took a deep breath, wiped her tears, and the two began talking for hours as if they'd known each other for a lifetime.

Shen Lingzu felt an unexpected warmth from this newfound connection. Hua Ru gave her a sense of family, a motherly affection she had lost long ago.

But something weighed heavily on Shen Lingzu's mind: the dire condition of Aunt Hua Ru's husband.

When she asked about his state, Hua Ru replied in a low voice, "His condition has been worsening since last year. The medications are no longer working. I don't know what else to do."

As expected, his life hung by a thread. The medicines weren't a cure but merely a way to prolong life a little longer.

Shen Lingzu's thoughts wandered as she gazed at the door to the room opposite her. She decided she had to do something. Even though she didn't want her powers to be discovered, her heart couldn't ignore Hua Ru's suffering. She cared deeply for this woman and couldn't bear to see her become a widow under such tragic circumstances.

If there was anything she could do to help, she would. She was willing to risk exposing herself to ensure Hua Ru's genuine happiness.

The larger question was: How could she heal the man without revealing her abilities?

"Could I see Uncle's condition for myself?" Shen Lingzu asked.

Hua Ru hesitated but eventually led her into the room.

The moment they entered, Shen Lingzu caught sight of something unusual: a cylindrical medical cabin in the center of the room, surrounded by various advanced machines. Inside the cabin, submerged in a bluish liquid, lay Hua Ru's husband.

The sight was another stark reminder of the advanced technology in this interstellar world. Just as Shen Ling Zhu began to forget that she's in a new world, the world slapped her with scenes like this to remind her.

Shen Lingzu stared at the man's gaunt yet handsome face, feeling an overwhelming urge to help him. Yet, she was unsure how to approach the situation.

This was a military hospital. If she were caught using her powers here, the consequences would be catastrophic. She valued her freedom and had no intention of becoming a guide bound by the government, an institution, or the military.

After a long internal struggle, Shen Lingzu resolved to help Hua Ru's husband in secret.

She came up with a plan: she would send Hua Ru away for a while and attempt to heal her husband's damaged spiritual sea quietly. That way, she could work without witnesses or evidence.

It was a clever plan. Or so she thought.

Unbeknownst to Shen Lingzu, military hospitals operated differently. In facilities treating sentines. cameras were installed in patient rooms to monitor their behavior in case of aggression or rampages. While the cameras could be manually disabled, Shen Lingzu had no idea they existed, let alone how to turn them off.

"Aunt Hua Ru, didn't you say earlier that you wanted to speak with the doctor about Uncle's condition?" Shen Lingzu suggested after a moment of thought. "Why don't you go now? I'll stay here and wait for you, okay?"

Hua Ru hesitated. She didn't want to leave Shen Lingzu alone, but after some gentle insistence, she relented. Stroking Shen Lingzu's head, she promised to return soon and left the room.

"Take your time, Auntie," Shen Lingzu thought. "I'll need every minute to figure out how to use my powers for this."

While she was adept at controlling her ice and wind abilities, they were her natural gifts. Guidance, on the other hand, was a different matter entirely. For that, she would need Xiao Hong's help.

Sensing her thoughts, Xiao Hong appeared in a flash, darting toward her face as usual.

After giving him a gentle pat, Shen Lingzu quickly entered the room. She stood before the medical Cabin, her hand resting on its surface.

"Xiao Hong, let's heal him before Aunt Hua Ru comes back," she She said in a loud voice.

The moment she spoke, she felt a strange sensation—both warm and cold—encircling her.

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Author Rinna has something to say:

 everyone get ready for Shen Ling Zhou's live show! 

Ouyang jian: 

I look forward to seeing the guide who tried to seduce me.

Lan Tian Yi:

Stop bullying our heroine; author sama; she didn't know there were cameras. [Thank God for that.] 

Lu Xian Yang: 

What are you guys talking about?

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